From the surface, water reflects thermal energy like glass, smooth metals, etc. Now if you have a warm body in cold water, then they'll stick out like a sore thumb... until their core temp cools to that of the water.

As I'm not aware of any models that are currently submersible... and even if they were, I can only speculate that the TIC would simply "white-out" or "blackout" to whatever the temperature of the water is directly at the lens. I'm pretty sure infrared energy can not be transmitted through water.

Originally posted by Resq14 Now if you have a warm body in cold water, then they'll stick out like a sore thumb... until their core temp cools to that of the water.

When we were evaluating TICs we asked the salesmen about this because we do quite a bit of water and ice rescues. We were told pretty much what you stated as long as the victim is above the surface of the water or ice. He stated that once they are submerged they will not be visible on the TIC's screen.

Ya, I should've been more specific... if the person is above the water. If submerged, unless a body is able to warm surface water enough to be detected by a TIC (unlikely), the TIC won't be able to detect it.

Re: TIC's and water rescue

Originally posted by RFRDxplorer Today someone told me that you can use TIC's underwater with SCUBA SAR. Is it true that all TIC's are like this? I dont even know if its true, tying to find facts.

The person who told you that is making stuff up.

The thermal energy generated by a person will NOT penetrate water...not even two inches worth of water. Your thermal imager sees surface temperatures, and the first surface temperature that it sees is that of the water.

As long as a portion of the person is above the water, he/she (or at least the body parts above water) will be visible to the TI. Once they go under, a TI will not assist in the rescue (or recovery).

The TI can be used, however, to scan a shoreline to determine if a person may have self-rescued from the water prior to the dive team's arrival.

Re: TIC

Originally posted by SpokaneRep JB,
You stated that the TIC will see the temperature of the water. I was under the impression that it will be closer to the ambient air temperature, as it is reflected on the water?

Water is tricky...it has a temperature and a surface, so the TI wants to see that...but it is also reflective of other temperatures, so the sky can be reflected off of it to your TI (and deep space has no surface or temperature).

Air temperatures are NOT shown on a TI. Superheated or crygenic gases are exceptions, because they have emissivity. But in general, your TI will not care about ambient air. Ambient air temperatures are only important in that they influence the temperature of inanimate objects in an area...but that is the surface temperatures that your TI detects.